When the roll is called up yonder

I've been thinking the past few days about soft targets.  We've discussed them here before.  If you missed that, then you need to look  'round here and get up to speed.

Soft targets are generally these: schools, shopping malls, churches, mass transit vehicles such as buses and trains, hotels/resorts/family vacation spots. Some would define soft as a target having no security personnel on site.  As you may have noticed, having a security "force" does not in any way suggest anything or anybody there is secure or safe. 

By whatever terms we define soft, it's just a darn good thing we never go to or even near any of these targets and that there are so very few of them in this country.  Eh?

Fer sher.

Softest of all targets might be churches, especially those with community out-reach programs such as a Free Store or weekly free hot meals. I've thought it through and have in mind very particular details as to what I'd look for if I were a terrorist looking to explode a church, but I won't list the details here.  In fact, I can think of exactly which churches I'd hit here in town if I was of such a mind.

It really can happen here, don't you see.  The lady in this story blew up her own kind and her own kid because she believed it would please her god.  You think there are no true believers in the US? As this shows clearly, we've got American-born and educated people willing and able to attack churches.  Why wouldn't a misunderstanding immigrant?

I wrote here a while back about the potential dangers we face from the hapless homeless and it's self-evident from what you can read here that terrorists know how to play on the good-will of people, even their own. 

Soon state-side civilians will be targets.  You and me.  You and those you love.

You.

Under the "leadership" of the current, enlightened administration, there will be much less proactive, preemptive counterterrorism action taken against potential terrorist plots and plotters than there was with President Bush. We will see a switch back to the Clinton days of pursuing terrorists as violators of the law and not as enemy combatants, as people trying to kill us and destroy our way of life.  The results of this stupid policy switch will be horrific.  Soon.

I actually wrote the paragraph above several days ago, as a draft, so there was no real evidence that the FBI would be put back in charge as the lead agency in counterterrorism.  But here you can read... it's official.

Be that as it may, let's get back on track: there is absolutely no reason to believe terrorists already here or soon to come won't try to soften up the "compassionate" and trick them to their deaths.

Churches are already high on target lists. Here's how a terrorist might try to fool you and turn as many of you as possible into pink mist:

A very pregnant woman comes to the weekly free lunch at your church.  She speaks pretty good English, and isn't in dire straits financially, but will be soon. Sez she. She might be dressed in Western clothes or in the long robes worn in other parts of the world.  She takes time to meet a couple workers or church members who are there serving the food or in some other capacity. She might mention a growing desire to convert to Christianity but express a vague hesitancy, even a fear. She'll come back to the free meal deal the next week and say hello to those she met the time before, building the "friendship" a bit more.  She will explain that she's still interested in leaving her religion but is a bit scared now since men and women from her local "church" have found out about her desire to convert and are making not-so-veiled threats to kill her if she does.  This makes the protective urge even stronger in your church folk.  She will try to keep her contacts to just the women at your church, staying away from the naturally more suspicious men. After a couple visits, she might come back one more time the following week, trying to stir just a little more concern and compassion in your ladies.  Somewhere during the second or third visit, she will ask when your Sunday services are and tell you she'll be there next Sunday.

Once she shows up for Sunday service, she's got her foot in the door. A level of trust will grow and any doubting members will be hushed by the more "spiritually sensitive." The bomber will make some new friends that first Sunday she attends and promise to attend the next Sunday, because she's nearing decision-time viz a conversion experience.  Sez she.

The next Sunday, she'll show up looking neat and clean in whatever she's wearing, probably something appropriate for hiding the bomb she's carrying.  When the altar call is given, this still obviously "pregnant" woman will go forward for prayer and to get "saved". Once she's been led through the "sinner's prayer", she'll rise, probably in tears, and turn around to look for her new found lady friends in the congregation.  She'll motion them forward and give them warm, teary hugs when they join her.  The congregation will be focused on this "miracle" and some may even move forward to welcome her to the family of God.

When the "convert" has the most people around her that she thinks she can get, she'll detonate her belly bomb. 

I don't know what this woman will look like in terms of ethnicity or race.  And it doesn't matter. Whoever she is, whatever she looks like, here's what you do:

You're looking for wires that hang or protrude from whatever she's wearing.  You might also see wire printing under her clothes ~ like panty-lines under tight jeans ~ you can see what appear to be wires under taut clothing. 

Where do the wires go?  From the wrist, up the sleeve to the armpit, then down the side and over to her belly? And does the wire hang out from the end of her sleeve with a button switch attached?  Ouch.  That's going to be a bomb.  Pretty much for sure, I'm thinking.  But she won't be wearing tight clothing.  Depending on the weight of the bomb, her shoulders might droop lower than normal for a pregnant woman, and what should be bra straps might actually appear to be straps for a back-pack, about 1"-2" wide and maybe padded.

As she rises from her "salvation experience", she might keep one hand beneath her clothing, or reach there and not withdraw her hand.  Is she holding the detonator switch?  I don't know.

If I saw this scene and knew the woman met most or all of the characteristics I listed above, I'd have to conclude that she had murder on her mind, not living forever with Jesus.

If you're going to go on defense at that moment; be sure to yell to the congregation to get down as you are assuming the position.  What's the position?  Face down with something that will stop shrapnel between you and the bomber lady.  If you can't find cover, then get down flat with your feet pointing away from said bomber lady because, as we all know, the leather on the bottom of your shoes stops flyin' bomb stuff better than the gel in your hair.

You decide what you're going to do, not me.  If after all the moral wrangling you decide to go on offense and you have taken the time and care to be sure you're within all the legal parameters set up by your jurisdiction, then you might want to consider taking a look at this and further deciding for yourself what you're willing to do.

I have no axe to grind with you, whatever it is you might decide; here and now or there and then.

I don't have anything like a premonition or an impression or a revelation of any sort that this type of attack might be attempted.  It just occurred to me several days ago that such an attack would be relatively easy to pull off.  If someone is out there planning this mayhem, I'd feel sorta strongly that we should not let that person succeed.

But that's just me.  And I could be wrong: maybe she really is just responding to the love of Jesus she sees in your baby-blue eyes.

Here are some additional thoughts.  Hey, let's be careful out there.

Comments

[Rådgivende ingeniør]

When the roll is called up yonder is the charismatic and praising song by the born again christian. I am a member of "Iglesia ni Cristo" or Church of Christ but I like and admire the thoughts and the message of this song. Keep up the excellent work.

[George guy]

On the other hand, there's a possible scenario that may begin much as you describe, except that the woman could be for real (and not necessarily actually pregnant), and then you may have to worry about one or more of her relatives paying a visit.